moftgan



(No Model.) Sweets-Sheet 2.

O. H. MORGAN.

AIR SHIP.

Patented New? 1887.

INVENTOR ATTORNEYS.

n4 mm Photo-Lithographer, Wnhmgion. o a

I (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet a.

O. H. MORGAN.

AIR SHIP.

No. 373,469. Patented Nov 22, 1887.

WITNESSES INVEN'IOR BY Tong N. PETERS-Pmo-Lmgrgghar. Wahingnm n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES H. MORGAN, OF GUNNISON, COLORADO.

AIR-SHIP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 373,469, dated November 22, 1887.

Application filed November 18, 1886. Serial No. 219,285. (No model.)

T0 at whom/ it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. DIORGAN, 0f Gunnison, in the county of Gunnison and State of Colorado, have invented a new and Improved Aerial Ship, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to a ship purposed for aerial navigation, and has for its object to produce a light yet strong and roomy structure, capable of easy ascension, and which while in passage is readily steered in any direction.

The invention consists in the construction and combination of the several parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a plan View thereof, partly sectional. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of my ship. Fig. 3 is a central transverse section. Fig. 4 is a sectional View illustrating the application of power to the upper tier of wings, and Fig. 5 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the application of power to the lower tier of wings, and Fig. 7 is a detail view relating to thesame. Fig. 8 is a modified form of conveying motion to the lower tier of wings, and Fig. 9 shows details thereof. Fig. 10 is a side elevation of the rudder and connections, and Fig. 11 is an end view of the same. Fig. 12 is aside View of one of the wings employed. Fig. 13 is an edge view thereof.

My aerial ship is usually constructed with a series of longitudinal tubes, A, adapted to hold concentrated gas, bent to assume a spherical or bird-like shape, secured at their extremities to the reduced end ribs, to a, together with a series of transverse circular or oval ribs, B, between which ribs and the said longitudinal tubes is fitted an inner inclosing silk or metallic wall, 0. The said oval ribs are secured transversely to the longitudinal tubes A, the fastenings penetrating the aforesaid inner wall, 0. An outer smooth metallic wall, D, is also provided, ordinarily fastened to the end rib, a, and to the longitudinal tubes A, and the said outer casing is made to extend over the front rib, a, and terminate in a sharp forward point, a which constitutes the bow of the ship. In the bottom of said how a a sightopening, I), is made, and near said sight-opening a steering apparatus, Z)", is mounted. The space d between the inner and outer walls is made to constitute an air-chamber, and the intention of this chamber is to modify the external atmospheric pressure on the interior gas-chamber hereinafter described, and also to modify the effects of expansion or contraction of said gas contained in said chamber. The entirely smooth surface of the external parts and the peculiar form which the above construction gives the ship enables the same to penetrate the air with the least possible resistance.

In the central portion of the ship a properlyinclosed compartment, D, is formed, which is made to extend from a point about halfway the sides of the ship parallel with the said sides and bottom at about the height of eight or nine feet, and a central passage-way, E, is

also provided, extending from bow to stern, whereby access is bad to the gear of the rudder E when necessary and to the steering apparatus in the bow. The said compartment D is subdivided into a central cabin-apartment, D", and two'insulated side apartments, D, wherein are stored electric motors, which motors may be of any approved construction capable offurnishing the requisite propellingpower. The inner and outer walls, 0 and D, are apertured within the cabin D upon each side of the center, and the said apertures fitted with glass panes e, through which a view is had outside.

WVithin the space inclosed by the inner wall, 0, I locate air-chambers WV, usually transversely and longitudinally the compartment D, from end to end, which compartment is subdivided into the cabin D and insulated compartment D and substantially of thesame height as said compartment D, the inner wall of the air-chamber being made double to compensate for the pressure of gas against the same when the air is exhausted therefrom.

\Vithin the top, at each side of the air-chamber \V, I insert ordinary automatic safety- Valves V, having less strength per square inch than the outer wall of the gas-chamber, which valves permit the gas to escape from its cham- V ber above into the said air-chamber, when, the air is exhausted by the ship rising into a light atmosphere, or as the ship rises and the pressure of the gas increases in proportion to the decrease of atmospheric pressure the pressure of the gas upon the outer walls of the airchamber is therefore modified by its escape into the same through the said valvesV. Thus it will be seen that I do not rely for safety or buoyancy alone upon the outer walls, as illustrated in Fig. 3. W The strength of the walls, which may be constructed, as stated, of either silk or metal, and fastened to the frame by ties, rings, or clamps, admits of great expansion of the gas, securing to the ship superior elevating-power. One or more small chambers-such as ac -may also be used to facilitate ascension by exhausting the air therefrom and filling the same from the gas-chamber. As another means of deriving elevating-power from the expansion of gas, the

concentrated gas in the longitudinal tubes may be introduced in the gas-chambers, which will materially aid in accomplishing the proposed result. While the ship is elevated, as above, principallythrough introduction of the concentrated gas contained in the longitudinal tubes into the gas-chamber, it may be lowered by external valves fixed near the upper corner of the insulated apartments having cords let into said compartments, whereby they are operated.

Owing to the shape of my ship, prior to ascension, when the same is at rest upon the ground, a means of support therefor is necessary. To that end I usually employ the pivoted braces F, (shown in Fig. 2,) which braces are adapted, when not in use, to fold against the outer wall,D, or in recesses formed therein.

In the sides of the ship, piercing both the inner and outer walls, two rows of crescentlike slots are provided, G and G, the under.

row of slots, G, having a decided inclination toward the bow, the curve thereof being in that direction, while the upper row, G, are more or less vertically inclined, their concave surface facing the stern of the ship. Each of said slots in both rows is made to enter, according to the location, one of the insulated apartments, D of the central compartment, D. In the arrangement of said slots G and G each upper slot is made to align peripherally with the lower ones in every instance, as shown in Fig. 2. Between the aforesaid crescent-like slots ladders g are secured transversely the outer wall, and proper openings, 9, are made near the base of said ladders in the double walls of the ship to afford a means whereby the propelling apparatus adapted to operate in said slots may be repaired when necessary.

Within the insulated apartments D, in line with the upper crescent-like openings, G, an electric motor, H, is secured, as shown in Fig. 4, which motor is connected to arack,h, adapted to be reciprocated upon a suitable bed, h attached tothesides of the ship by the said motor H, through the medium of a crank-shaft,h ,held

in bearings to the inner side of a longitudinal 4 bar, h and a pitman, h". Upon the outer side of the said longitudinal bar its a shaft, z, is held in bearings parallel therewith over the reciprocating rack h, the said shaft being provided with a toothed wheel, z", adapted to mesh into said rackand at intervals of its length withlugs i into which lugs are pivoted horizontal connecting-rods k, purposed to project through the upper crescent-like slots, G, and engage wings K.

The wings K, as shown in detailin Figs. 12

and 13, partake somewhat the appearance of 8c a birds wing, having adecided concaved under surface and a convexed upper surface, and

form the prime factor in the propulsion of my ship. The construction of the said wings consists in a curved outer frame, It, provided with a number of socketsflc, in which sockets are introduced stems or shanks k of metallic feather-like leaves 70*. The said leaves are arranged to decrease from top to bottom in length to complete the wing-like outline, and are secured in position by means of bands 70, extending a distance over said metallic feathers upon .each side, and firmly secured thereto by light bolts.

The construction above described causes the upper row of wings to propel the ship forward, and at the same time slightly upward, the movement of the said wings being nearly ver-. tical.

Near the under row of crescent-like slots G a similar motor, H, is mounted in the insulated apartments D to the one employed with relation to the upper row, and communication is had and motion imparted to the wings K, as shown in Fig. 6, through the medium of a pitman, m, having a ball-and-socket connection with a short horizontal shaft, m, upon which is rigidly attached a cam, m, having connected thereto upon its curved front at opposite ends springs m which springs may be secured to the walls of the compartments D", or to suit- 7 able uprights in any approved manner. A second horizontal shaft, m", provided with a socket at its outer end, is loosely pivoted to the said inner horizontal shaft, m, adapted to receive the arm m connected with the wings K, the said wing-arms being provided with a square collar to guide the same in their respective slots G. Thus, by means of the springs m the pivotal connection of the shafts m and m, and the inclination of the slots G, the dip of the wing is made more in a horizontal direction than in the first row, presenting in their downward stroke a full pressure to the atmosphere and a feathered return somewhat similar to the motion of an oar in its upward sweep, the concave or propelling stroke being toward the stern and the feather of the said wings on their return toward the bow.

In producing the above feathered motion, instead of the springs shown in Figs. 6 and 7, I accomplish the same by electro-magnets n, placed at each end of the stroke, magnetic connection being alternately made and broken by means of the motor H, which vibrates the wings, the feathering being done by the action of the electro-magnets n on an insulated wheel, n, fixed to the shaft m, having connection with the wing-arms, on the opposite side of which wheel a steel armatures n are placed.

In the walls of the passageway E, at the stern of the ship, I pivot at one side near the top a pulley, 0, and a similar pulley, 0', at the other side near the bottom, and centrally across the said end passage-way I secure a brace, p.

The rudder E, I construct somewhat in the shape of a fish-tail, consisting of two fans, 1), arranged side and side in the same plane, properly braced upon the sides and united at the ends, the forward end ofsaid rudder E being fitted with a yoke,1', having a central pivotpin, 9", extending through the rudder, and apertured ends 8. In affixing the rudder to the ship the pivotpin ris made to enter centrally a suitable aperture formed in the end brace, p, and cords t are fastened in the apertured ends of the yoke r, and carried, respectively, over the top and bottom pulleys, 0 0, and from thence along the passageway E to a connection with the steering apparatus 1) in the bow. (See Figs. 9 and 10.)

Instead of the above construction of a rudder. I may employ twin screws.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In an aerial ship, the combination, with the body thereof, of a double tier of wings at each side and means,substantially as described, for imparting a vertical reciprocating motion to the upper tier and a reciprocating feathering motion to the lower tier, substantially as herein shown and described.

2. In an aerial ship, the combination, with the body thereof having curved slots in its sides, of wings, rods connected to said wings and projecting through the said slots, and means for operating the said rods,substantiall y as herein shown and described.

3. An aerial ,ship provided with a central cabin, insulated operating-chambers on each side of the cabin, and a passage-way extending from stem to stern and provided with sightopenings in the forward portion, substantially U as herein shown and described.

4. The combination, with the frame of an aerial ship constructed as herein described, provided with a passage-way, E, a steeringgear, I), in said passage-way, and stern-posts carrying pulleys 0 o, and a central brace connecting said posts, of a rudder provided wlth the fans central pivotal rod, 1", and apertured yoke 1*, and a cable, 25, connecting said rudder with the steering-gear, substantially as shown and described, and for the purpose herein set forth.

5. The combination, with the frame of an aerial ship, constructed as herein described, provided with a tier ofcrescent-like apertures, G, of the motor H, crank-shaft h, longitudinal bar h the reciprocating rack it, connecting-rod h, the longitudinal shaft z, having integral lugs i, and a toothed wheel, i, keyed thereto, together with the metallic wings K, substantially as shown and described,whereby the said ship is propelled by the vertical reciprocating motion of the said wings, as set forth.

6. The combination, with the frame of an aerial ship, constructed, substantially as de scribed, with a tier of crescent-like apertures, G, of the motor H, connecting-rod m, the inner horizontal shaft, m, having attached thereto a cam, m operated by the diverging springs m the outer horizontal shaft, m*, loosely pivoted to said shaft m, the wing-arm m and metallic wings K, substantially as shown and described, whereby the ship is propelled by the reciprocating feathering motion of said wings, as set forth.

7. In an aerial ship, the wings K, con structed with an outer curved frame, having a series of sockets, k, and metallic feathers is, provided with stems 70, adapted to enter said sockets, the said feathers and stems being secured in position by transverse end bands, It, substantially as shown and described, and for the purpose herein set forth.

CHARLES H. MORGAN.

Witnesses:

FRANK B. MERIAM, HARVEY J. J ONES. 

